CONWAY, Ark. – The University of Central Arkansas softball team (18-9, 3-0 SLC) hosted Alcorn State (5-21, 0-0 SWAC) for two games at Farris Field on Tuesday. History was made as Kayla Beaver tossed a perfect game and Kayla Crutchmer became the career stolen bases leader.
 
Beaver became the first pitcher since 2015 to throw a perfect game. Kylee Studioso was the last to throw one on April 14, 2015. Beaver recorded six strikeouts in six innings of work. This is her third complete-game shutout of her young career.
 
Crutchmer recorded four stolen bases on the day and moved into sole position of first place in the career record books with 102. The two stolen bases in the first game moved her into the top spot. She surpassed Briana Whisenhunt, who has held the record since 2017 with 99 stolen bases.
 
Game 1 – UCA 8, Alcorn State 0
 
Crutchmer led off the bottom of the third with a walk on four pitches. She then stole second and advanced to third on a throwing error. Her stolen base tied her for No. 1 in UCA history for career stolen bases. Mary Kate Brown singled through the right side and put the Bears on the board first.
 
In the bottom of the fourth, UCA added another run to extend its lead to 2-0. Crutchmer collected a two-out single to short and then stole second. She became the all-time leader in stolen bases. Brown picked up her second RBI on the day when she drove in Crutchmer from second.
 
Morgan Nelson started the bottom of the fifth off with a walk. Reagan Sperling followed with a single to first base. Sperling stole second and the Bears had runners on second and third with no outs. Lauren Brooks picked up a sac fly to right field that brought in another run for UCA. Sperling scored on a field error by the third baseman. Central Arkansas held a 4-0 lead after five innings.
 
Brown, Kaylyn Shepherd, and Cylla Hill recorded back-to-back-to-back singles to start the home half of the sixth. Tylar Vernon drew a walk to score Brown from third. Sperling followed with an RBI walk. Brooks drove in two more on a single to center and brought the run rule into effect. The Bears won game one 8-0.
 
Beaver improved to 7-1 on the season in the circle. Her six strikeouts were one shy of tying her career high. She did not give up a walk for the third straight game.
 
Ambria Dorsey picked up the loss and fell to 2-7 on the year. She gave up seven earned runs in five innings.
 
Game 2 – UCA 10, Alcorn State 2
 
Brown reached first on a one-out error by the third baseman. Shepherd was hit by a pitch. Hill launched a shot over the left center field wall and gave UCA an early 3-0 lead. Vernon followed with a single, before she was driven in by a triple to right center by Sperling.
 
The Bears added a run on the bottom of the second with an RBI double to left field. Central Arkansas led 5-0 after two innings.
 
In the bottom of the third, Lexi McClellan recorded an RBI single up the middle and extended the UCA lead to 6-0.
 
In the top of the fourth, the Lady Braves collected their first hit of the day and it was a big one. Amari Ramsey belted a two-run home run to left field. Alcorn State cut the UCA lead to 6-2.
 
The Bears responded with two runs in the bottom of the fourth. Hill notched a sac fly to center for the first run of the inning. Megan Crownover scored on a throwing error by the third baseman.
 
Shepherd added to the UCA lead with an RBI single in the bottom of the fifth. Brooks picked up an RBI when she drew a walk. Her RBI enforced the run rule. The final score was 10-2.
 
Cailey Cochran got the win in the circle for UCA and improved to 1-1 on the year. She went 3.1 innings and had five strikeouts. Rio Sanchez added 2.2 innings in relief and posted six strikeouts.
 
Brenn Ursin got the loss and fell to 2-9 for the Lady Braves. She struck out three batters in three innings of work. Kiri Parker added 2.1 innings of relief and had one strike out.
 
UCA returns to the diamond on Friday, March 13, when McNeese State comes to town. The doubleheader is scheduled to begin at 4 p.m.
 
From the Coach – Head Coach David Kuhn
"We had outstanding starting pitching today from Kayla Beaver and Cailey Cochran. I'm so happy for Kayla Beaver and for the team as they helped her achieve perfection. Cailey Cochran and Rio Sanchez did really well in game two. I'm elated for Kayla Crutchmer as she became the all-time stolen base leader. Briana Whisenhunt held the previous record and we're all excited for Crutchmer."

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